"KD" wrote in message
om...
I just picked up a van norman no 12, and it doesn't have any arbor to
use for over arm support, it has some small arbors and such, but that
is it. I know people have made some on there own, can someone explain
the process? Are you actually cutting the taper to slip into the
spindle or can you just make one in like 1/2 inch and use a collet and
the other end supported by the overarm? Appreciate any help.


The large taper of an arbor is intended to lend stability and provide the
driving force when using side cutters. When properly applied, horizontal
milling machines are capable of breath taking feed rated due to the large
number of teeth found on these potentially large diameter cutters. Based
on that, imagine the amount of torque necessary to drive the cutters without
slipping. Driving with a 1/2" collet would certainly not be in your best
interest. Even the largest collet you might have would be woefully lacking
if you ran a large cutter. I've seen up to 12" diameter cutters used on
#4 K&T mills. The mechanical advantage the cutter has is so great there's
almost no way you could drive it with a collet. Not taking a reasonable
feed is not the solution, either. Cutters that are not doing much work also
don't have much of a life span. Milling cutters that just scratch away at
material wear faster than one that is doing serious work, but cooled
properly with flood coolant.

Making or buying an arbor or two is really the best solution.

Harold